Tree stump roots causing problems for Staten Island residents on the South Shore

Roots from a leftover tree stump are lifting the sidewalk outside of Richard Collyer's home on Vineland Avenue, Annadale.
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - SOUTH SHORE - Several homeowners on the South Shore are feeling "stumped."

Within the past nine months, some residents of Annadale, Huguenot and Woodrow have had trees removed from the front of their homes, but while the crown and trunk are removed, the stumps remain. And in some cases, the leftover part is causing aggravation.

Following damage to a tree caused by a snowstorm in late October last year, Woodrow Road resident Caterina Scire alerted the city Parks Department to have the leaning tree removed. Agency workers came and cut it away, but nine months later, the stump remains, along with the tree's massive root system. These remnants have turned a flat walkway into what can be called a sidewalk speed bump.

To prevent pedestrians from possible injury by falling, Mrs. Scire placed caution tape near the damaged portion of sidewalk.

Multiple requests to the city's 311 line, one in November last year, and another in March, have come and gone.

According to public records, the request type was "Root/Sewer/Sidewalk Condition." When a complaint is lodged, callers are cautioned that the Department of Parks and Recreation usually requires 30 days to inspect this type of complaint. In both cases, that period has expired.

"My cement is very high and someone could get hurt. I pay so much money for taxes, but nobody does nothing," she said.

'FRUSTRATING'

Richard Collyer, a Vineland Avenue resident in Annadale, had a tree removed from the front of his home last year. While the stump remains, so does an uneven sidewalk. His son uses a wheelchair, said Collyer, and since Paulo Intermediate School is nearby at Huguenot Avenue and Woodrow Road, many children and teenagers use the sidewalk in front of Collyer's home.

The Parks Department sent the Collyers a letter dated May 10. It said the agency had scheduled repair of the tree-damaged portion of sidewalk on an upcoming contract and the work is scheduled to occur this summer or fall of 2012.

Collyer, a resident of Vineland for 33 years, said the process has taken too long.

"It's certainly frustrating," he mentioned.

In addition, Rob T. of Huguenot has two stumps sitting in front of his house. While they haven't damaged sidewalks, they've remained since last winter, he said.

"They haven't come back since," said the Huguenot resident of the Parks Department. "It's an eyesore. If someone trips on it, is it my responsibility? Plus people put garbage near it. There's nothing good about having them." A week ago, the Advance spotted two tree stumps on Foster Road, between Sinclair and Sheldon avenues. Portions of tree trunks were also lying in the street next to the stumps. Those parts were still present Monday afternoon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Parks' Forestry Services division on Staten Island handles stump removal and has its own stump grinder, said an agency spokeswoman.

Those wanting to remove a stump themselves must obtain a permit through www.nycgovparks.org. The Parks website also explains that tree stumps that remain from tree removals conducted by Parks are recorded and registered.

"Stump removals are dependent on the availability of funding. After a tree stump is removed, Parks will automatically add the site for potential planting through our free tree planting program," said Parks.

The Trees & Sidewalks Program repairs sidewalks damaged by curbside trees to improve tree health as well as sidewalk conditions, reads the Parks Sidewalk Repair page on the agency's website. Only one-, two-, and three-family residential property owners are eligible for the Tree & Sidewalks program and should use 311 or the forestry service request system (www.nycgovparks.org/services/forestry/request) to enroll.

Information is also available for those interesting in repairing a sidewalk on their own.

Parks spokeswoman Tara Kiernan reported that the agency has removed 218 tree stumps since last November. The agency anticipates removing another 300 within the coming year.